Fence-post.



PATENTED JAN. 24, 1905:.

.A. &-0. A. CHURCH.

FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 12, 1903.

Fig.4

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Ill. I

I INVENTOHS 7IW4M BYMW,

Fig. 1'

I \Hifll l hHh. w V v A TTORNE Y8 UNITED STATES- Patented January 24, 1905.

PATENT O FICE.

FENCE-POST- SPEGIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 780,638, dated January 24, 1905.

I Application filed December 12,1903. Serial No. 184,999.

1'0 all whom it nuty concern/.1

Be it known that we, ANDREW CHURCH and CHARLES A. CHURCH, citizens of the United States, and residents of Adrian, 'in the county 'of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Fence-Posts; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in the vide a strengthening member of the class de-' scribed that may be formed at the factory in compact form and packed in a small space for shipment to the place where the post is to be made, at which time said member may be quickly and easily drawn out to the desired length, so that the projecting eyes may be spaced at desired distances apart before being placed into the post-mold to accommodate the varying meshes of woven fences. 1

While the essential and characteristic features of our invention are necessarily susceptible of modification, the preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompany ing drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical side elevation of a post embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a detached view of the coil constituting a part of the complete post. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a fence-post embodying our invention and showing a portion thereof broken away,

and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the upper ends of the posts shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

' Referring to thedrawings, 1 represents an meshes of the fence may require-and the said member is then in proper shape to be embedded within the post when being formed.

A special feature in our invention is obtained by the coiling of the wires 2, as shown in Fig. 2, preparatory to its being expanded, inasmuch as the connecting portions of the diagonally-disposed legs thereof form the transverse shoulders A within the post, the

said shoulders acting as anchors for rigidly retaining in position each separated coil of the wire and also forming the eyes 5 exteriorly'of the post, which provide means for securing a fence to such post.

It will be apparent that one or more of these reinforcing-coils may be used in the formation of a post of this class and that, if desired, other strengthening means, such as the longitudinal strips 6, may be employed.

In the construction of cement posts we have employed reinforcing means of numerous shapes and styles and by reason of such experiments have ascertained that the strongest post and most satisfactory results can be attained by the use of a strengthening-strip substantially as herein described, which, in addition to its improved strengthening'qualities, also combines the fence-retaining eyes 5, adapted to be spaced when the post is being made as the mesh of the fence to be strung may require. I

On account of the weight of posts formed from cement or other similar material it is found more convenient for the farmer or other person building the fence to have his own mold and make the posts as he may need them. By the use of the strengthening or reinforcing means herein described the manufacture of posts at the place of use is made comparatively simple, as the coils of wire may be formed at the factory and shipped in compact form to the user, who then expands them as the particular needs of his fence may require.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an article of the class described and in combination, a fence-post of plastic mate rial and a single coil the convolutions of Which are of elongated shape, said coil being stretched to provide a zigzag portion formed by the longer sides of the convolutions and connecting laterally-disposed portions provided by the ends of the convolutions, said coil being embedded Within the post With corresponding untwisted ends of the convolutions I projecting from one face thereof, the sides the fence fabric to the post, which consists of a coil of ductile material, the convolutions of said coil being of elongated shape and having laterally-extending ends providing shoulders, said coil being embedded in the post with the short untwisted sections of corresponding ends of the convolutions projecting from one face of the post to form attaching-eyes, and said coil being expansible lengthwise to varying degrees for spacing said attaching-eyes varying distances apart for the purpose of permitting different structures of fence fabric to be attached to the post, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREV CHURCH. CHARLES A. CHURCH.

Witnesses:

D. M. MORGAN, C. W. OWEN. 

